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The Realize Q&A with Steve Griffiths

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Steve Griffiths – Sales Manager, Materialise

Materialise_IYCCO Realize, Inc is communicating with 3D Printing experts from around the globe to discuss the future of our industry. We talked with Steve Griffiths the Sales Manager at Materialise to get his take on where things are headed in the additive manufacturing world. Steve manages a team of professionals at Materialise who are selling and supporting leading software technology in the 3D Printing Industry.

“3D printing is an amazing industry with great potential. It’s a great combination of the machines, materials, software and the people. I’m excited to see where it goes!”

 

 

Why has 3D Printing become the buzz word for the entire industry and do you think that is a good or bad thing?

At first I resisted the move away from Additive Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping. But as the term 3D Printing is allowing for a more consistent conversation about the technology through the mainstream press, and as it has been embraced by the public, catching their attention in a way that the other terms didn’t, I’ve decided to get on board and go with it as well.

 

There has been a ‘new generation’ of users exposed to AM/RP/3DP over the past few years, along with a huge media buzz.  How do you see this camp and the ‘old school’ camp coming together?
I think at first there will be lots of differences and levels of knowledge about the capabilities of 3D Printing. But as time goes on, the new generation will learn from the experienced users and in turn, the new generation will bring some fresh approaches that can inspire the ‘old guard’. What will be especially interesting is when students who are now being exposed to 3D Printing in their classrooms graduate and start putting the technology to use in ways that we can’t even dream of right now.

 

What challenges/opportunities do you feel service providers, like Realize, face today?

Service providers are facing lots of challenges in the industry today – with consolidations, pressure to reduce costs, and limited availability of materials probably topping the list. However, as a new generation of 3D printers are revealed, new materials are introduced to the market, and the software, such as the solutions developed here at Materialise, evolves to better answer the growing needs of the markets, we are also in an exciting time where people throughout the industry and constantly pushing the limits of what can be achieved. There are always challenges associated with emerging technologies, but it is the opportunities that make this such a great industry to be involved in.

 

What are some misconceptions about the capabilities of the technologies?

3D Printing is so mind-blowing to so many people that it is perfectly natural that there are misconceptions about what it can achieve – with people both underestimating as well as overestimating what is possible. For people who have only just discovered the technology and who have only seen the desktop printers now entering stores and schools, they think that it will still take years for the machines to reach a point where they can manufacture end-use parts, which has in fact already been possible for years using professional machines. On the other end of the spectrum, a common overestimation is that we are already at the point where 3D printed organs are possible and will soon be implanted in patients, which is still many years away. Instead, we should be celebrating the reality that we are already producing 3D Printed implants and have long been enabling a new level of personalized healthcare with printed medical models, virtual planning and printed surgical guides.

 

What are your thoughts on 3D food and clothing and all the headline grabbing stories about our Industry that are posted daily online?

Well I haven’t tasted any 3D printed food yet and I’m not sure I’m on board with that, but know that many of my colleagues are excited about the possibility. However, when it comes to fashion, I am proud to be working for a company that has been working with the designers who first brought this application of 3D printing to the public’s attention. In collaboration with Iris van Herpen, we have brought 3D Printed fashion to the Paris runways, have worked with designers for New York fashion week as well as bringing our own 3d Printed fashions shows to audiences all over the world – and of course, together with Studio XO, we saw Lady Gaga wearing a 3D printed dress for the first time with her most recent album launch.

 

Are there any new applications for Rapid Prototyping you feel will emerge over the next few years?

As 3D printing continues to grow, I think more and more industries will see the benefit to applying it to their processes. For example, we have already seen the realization of 3D printed insoles, surgical guides, mass customization and the production of hearing aids and as the machines, materials and software continue to improve, even more applications will start to emerge.

 

If you could make a prototype of anything with no care given to time or cost, what would you create?

Well I love to boat so I would love to create a customized 3D printed bimini for my boat or even to print some accessories or replacement parts for it. But I am also fascinated by all the 3D printing in the medical field, which Materialise also plays a large part in. All these advances make me optimistic that if I were ever to need a knee replacement or brain surgery or anything else, 3D printing would play a pivotal role in it.

 

What trends should AM business owners be looking to follow over the next century in your opinion?

I think more people will look to 3D printing for mass customization. There are definitely industries where this makes a lot of sense and also some where it doesn’t. So finding the right niche is key. Also applying 3D printing to more person specific parts or goods – like a customized steering wheel to your hands or headphones that are made for your head like a company in New York is doing.

 

Where do you think 3D Printing will be 50 years from now? (This is just a fun guess, futuristic question)

Wow! That seems so far off. So many things could be possible by then – organs and tissue – more cars and houses. Also I see it being more integrated and utilized with traditional manufacturing.

 

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The Realize Team Caricatures

 

The Realize Team Caricatures

The Realize staff is made up of some very talented and interesting people. Our goal is to cultivate a fun team atmosphere where everyone is working together with the common goal of doing amazing work for our clients. There are many different personalities at Realize and you can check them out in the OUR TEAM section of the website. How did these fun caricatures of our team come to life?

 

“We wanted caricatures instead of photos for our website to convey the fun side of our team. We certainly work very hard at Realize, but we do have fun working and our caricatures convey favorite personal activities. The caricatures have become a very popular feature of our website, and we receive a lot of compliments on them. Paul McCall does phenomenal work, and his caricatures are simply dead-on accurate representations of all of us at Realize!”

 

-Tonya Reese Realize Inc, CFO and Owner

 

 

 

 

Paul McCall is a talented artist and he enjoyed working with Realize on this team project.

 

“My association with Realize, Inc. began in late 2006 when Todd and Tonya Reese contacted me with the idea of having full body (with hobby) caricatures drawn of all the Realize staff. They wanted me to come up to the office and do live sketches and talk to the Realize folks, as well as take reference photos for the final, digital artwork.

Where Realize stands out from my other regular clients is their desire to “freshen” the caricatures on the team web page after a few years, in addition to adding new hires as they come on staff. Another great aspect to getting a call from Realize is that I get to spend some time in an office where everyone really seems to enjoy their work and their co-workers. I always look forward to working with Realize, Inc.”

 

– Paul McCall, Caricatures by Paul McCall

For more information on Paul visit http://www.paulmccall.com

Dawn Cazzell

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Realize Employee Profile: Elliott Dixon

Realize Sales Representative Elliott Dixon

Every Tuesday

Wedding Crashers on repeat

Jay-Z is where it's at for ED

 

Realize is expanding our sales staff and we would like to introduce you to Elliot Dixon.

 

What is your role at Realize?

 

Elliott: Sales Representative for the west coast territory.

What interests you about additive manufacturing and 3D Printing?

 

It’s interesting. With anything we use in our daily lives, it all started with an idea, so to bring peoples ideas to life is a really cool process.

Name some of your favorite things in the world.

 

My Daughter Sophia she is 4.  The Colts, Summer Shandy in the summer and hanging out my with friends.

Favorite meal?

 

I’m a taco Tuesday kind of guy, I make them at home. I prefer corn tortilla hard shells. I always eat tacos on Tuesdays.

 

What music are you listening to right now?

 

I mainly listen to ESPN 1070 The Fan. I love sports radio. My favorite artist is Jay-Z. I have been to every one of his concerts since 2004. I like R&B too. My Favorite Jay-Z song is “Song Cry.”

 

You are permitted to take only two movies with you for a long voyage out in space…which two do you bring?


Wedding Crashers and The Dark Knight

 

What are a couple random items people would be surprised to find out about you?


I don’t have a middle name. It is a family tradition of E.D. initials. I have been 6’1 since 8th grade. I’m still the same height!

 

When you were little you wanted grow up to be?


A lawyer. I liked the movie Liar Liar a lot with Jim Carrey when I was a kid.

 

One word that describes you?

 

Easy.

 

One personal thing you would like to Rapid Prototype?

 

A really cool cell phone case. One nobody had but me.

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Realize Launches New Sales Force

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Realize, Inc. is launching a new proactive sales force that will enhance and grow our business into the future. The plan has been in place since late 2012. The goal was to create and build a strong sales force and we are ready to embark on this exciting new venture. The enhanced sales and client services at Realize also coincides with the release of our state of the art quoting software, RealFastQuotes!, which was put in place to make it easy for our clients to get the fastest and most accurate quotes possible. We talked with Realize president Todd Reese and Sales Manager Alan Conlu about the launch.

 

Todd Reese, President, Realize:

 

In late 2012, it dawned on us that we had been in a reactive mode for a long time, in regard to sales. We made a decision at that time to lay out a road map which would turn our organization into a proactive force. We turned to an outside consultant for help developing this map. As months passed, we began learning better techniques and processes. It took time to implement those techniques and processes, but we began to see good things happen. After a bit of reorganization of our Sales personnel, we felt it necessary to seek out seasoned salespeople to add into the mix. We’ve recently added two new people to serve in this role, and they are moving smoothly through our on-boarding process. At this point, I see the tires smoking, and it’s just a matter of time before they grab the road and we’re off and running in the direction we set out to go.

 

Alan Conlu, Sales Manager, Realize:

 

We have seen the market change over the past few years and we realized what was working in past wasn’t going to take us where we wanted to go. The first part of that change started with launching the Real Fast Quotes system which is a new online quoting service to automate our ordering process. Then we revamped our sales staff by hiring a support person and two new sales representatives. The sales people that we hired went through a stringent screening and hiring process and are currently in our on boarding program which is designed to get them up to speed quickly.

 

How will the new quoting software and new sales staff make doing business with Realize easier?

 

Todd: Regarding our RealFastQuotes Instant Online Quoting System, this enhancement to our services allows clients, both new and current, to obtain quotations instantly for SLA parts. They can login any time of day, on their schedule, to manage quotations and place orders. We encourage everyone to utilize this system. RealFastQuotes combined with our beefed up sales staff, allows us more quality time to build relationships with clients, answer questions and educate, rather than simply taking orders.

 

How does the addition of sales representatives change the dynamics around Realize?

 

Alan: The addition of the sale staff has created a new culture of ideas and of trying new things that will help push the company forward. We wanted to ensure that the people we hired not only fit the position but they also fit the team we wanted to build. Not only is the team experienced but they have diverse backgrounds so each member brings a unique set of skills and energy. There is progress to be made and we are very encouraged by the positive efforts and activities that we already see during our on boarding process.

 

There is a new electricity in the air around the shop, and everyone is excited to see Realize grow.

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Realize Employee Profile: Jeff Costin

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Realize Sales Representative Jeff Costin

Sailing, it takes him away...

 

Realize is expanding our sales staff and we would like to introduce you to Jeff Costin.

 

What is your role at Realize?

I’m the Sales Representative for the Central US Territory.

 

What interests you about additive manufacturing and 3d Printing?

We help people develop ideas. The opportunity to assist clients with design and manufacturing questions is rewarding. The industry changes so quickly with new resins and technology and that keeps things exciting.

 

Name some of your favorite things in the world.

Sailing. I like to water ski.  My kids. I really love fishing and swimming too.

 

Favorite meal?

Fish. Any fish really, but if I have to pick one…Walleye. My favorite dessert is the Summer Cornet from the Corndance Tavern restaurant.

 

What music are you listening to right now?

Country western at the moment. I like Jimmy Buffett but mostly I listen to the radio.

 

You can take two movies with you to space…which do you bring?

Bond Movies… any of the ones with Sean Connery and Caddyshack.

 

One word that describes you?

Competitive.

 

One personal thing you would like to Rapid Prototype?

My sailboat. It’s an MC Scow. “Bamboo” is the name given to the boat. There is a superstition that you shouldn’t rename a boat and I bought this one with the name on it..so I keep it.

 

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